Glowing hydrogen and oxygen gas surrounding bright Lambda Centauri form the distinct shape of a chicken. IC2872 forms the 'head' of the animal.
At the seven o'clock position from Lambda Centauri are the famous Thackeray's globules. The small dark dust and gas clouds are condensing under the pressure of the radiation from nearby stars and will become stars eventually.
The small planetary nebula in the upper left corner is PK 294-0.1.